Pompeo said that included a "series of sanctions aimed not at the Iranian people, but rather aimed at the single mission of convincing the Iranian regime that its malign behaviour is unacceptable". Pompeo said that the USA remained committed to ensuring that shipping lanes remained open.

Iranian First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri said it would be hard to sideline Iran, the third-largest OPEC producer, completely.

Jahangiri said it would be a mistake to think the United States "economic war" against Iran will have no impact, but added: "We will make Americans understand this year that they can not stop Iranian oil sales".

Iran "should know that America is committed to keeping sea lines open, keeping the transit of oil available for the entire world", Pompeo said.

"That's the commitment we have had for decades", he said.

This acknowledgment coincides with the Iranian parliament vice president Ali Motahari threat to close the Strait of Hormuz.

The Iranian oil ministry said last week that it exported 2.2 million barrels per day of crude oil in June.

Iran on Tuesday, July 10, slammed India for not fulfilling its investment promises for the expansion of the Chabahar port and said that New Delhi will lose "special privileges" if it stops Iranian oil import and tries to source it from other countries like Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, and the US.

Already, regular gasoline prices in the U.S. are $2.86 a gallon, up from $2.26 the year before, according to AAA. This is 30 days more than other oil-producing countries.

U.S. benchmark crude traded near $75 a barrel on Tuesday, while Brent crude traded near $80.

According to a US State Department official, Mike Pompeo also seeks to reassure European countries about alternative supplies for Iran's oil.

On Friday, the remaining partners in the 2015 nuclear deal vowed to keep Iran plugged into the global economy despite the USA withdrawal and sanctions threat. "... India is trying to make Chabahar port in Iran operational by 2019... opening up of the Chabahar port would make the CIS countries more accessible", the shipping minister said.

Before heading to Brussles, Pompeo, himself, was in Abu Dhabi, where he likewise tried to rally more support against Tehran.

Pompeo, who earlier visited Afghanistan, Japan, North Korea and Vietnam on his trip, left the UAE heading for a NATO summit in Brussels that Trump will attend.

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